Official Results From Board of Elections in Mayor’s Race

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2005. From Board of Elections, Westchester County. November 9, 2005: Within the last hour the Board of Elections has posted the official results for the White Plains city races. They may be accessed at http://www.westchestergov.com/electiontally/link24.html.


Mayor Delfino shows him taking the Mayoralty with 58% of the vote to Dennis Power’s 42% winning by 2,002 votes, 7,236 to 5,214 with 12,450 votes, estimated by the Board of Elections to be a 42% turnout.


 

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The Champ Retains Title. America’s Favorite Mayor, Joseph Delfino Wins 3rd Term

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2005. By John F. Bailey. November 8, 2005 UPDATED WITH MAYOR INTERVIEW: The City of White Plains gave Mayor Joseph Delfino a resounding “Well Done” this Election Day by electing White Plains favorite son to another four year term  with 58% of the vote giving him a clear cut mandate to continue his Revitalization Plan for White Plains. Unofficially, only 41% of White Plains registered voters cast ballots at the polls.


The Associated Press reports that statewide New Yorkers defeated Proposition One that would have allowed the legislature to craft the state budget, but voters approved the $2.9 Billion Transportation Bond Issue. White Plains Bill Ryan has won another term as County Legislator for the White Plains-Scarsdale District 5. Andy Spano has won a third term as County Executive and Janet DiFiore has won the office of Westchester County District Attorney.



Mayor Joseph Delfino claims victory last night. Photo by WPCNR News.


With all 43 Election Districts reporting by cellphone to Republican Headquarters at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Mayor Delfino is reporting receiving 7,207 votes to Dennis Power’s 5,260, a margin of 58% to 42%, which the Mayor maintained from first District to last.


In the Council races, Rita Malmud and Tom Roach, Democrats outpolled the Mayor, Malmud receiving 7,432 votes and Roach, 7,365. Malmud wins her fifth term on the council, and Roach his second. Glen Hockley won the third Council Seat with 6,447 votes, outdistancing Larry Delgado (5,440 votes) by 1,007 votes.  John Carlson polled 3,494 votes and Frank Mastraccio, 3,440.


Mayor Calls It “His greatest victory.”


In an  interview with WPCNR, Mayor Delfino said it was his greatest victory: “I feel tremendous, this was an unusual campaign. I managed this campaign with a sense of its future. We were positive through this entire campaign.There was no reason to be negative, because this city doesn’t need negativism.


        “There’s no doom and gloom in this city. This city is in excellent condition. And we’re going to make it better. Can you build a perfect city in six years? No. Are there issues we must handle? Yes.  That’s what our next four years is about: management of the smart growth that we’ve accomplished in this city which is recognized nationally and internationally. We have been a model for this country. The awards we have won. The response we ‘ve received from Europe, asking how did you do this?”


       “The people of White Plains believed in this growth accepted this growth and gave me this great honor to be Mayor for four more years.”


Asked what was next on the radar, Mayor Delfino said, “Next on the radar we have two projects approved, we have three that are being approved. We’re a walkable city but we’re going to put our trolley system in the city on rubber wheels, obviously we’re not going to put them on rail. We’re going to expand out to South Lexington Avenue, complete that area, and more important, the issues that come with smart growth that have occurred in this city, we’re going to manage those and resolve the issues that seem to be put before us and we’re going to make it a better place. That’s our object for the next four years.”


Unofficially, approximately 12,447 of 29,882 White Plains registered voters (as of October 19), voted in this citywide election. This means 41.7% of registered voters in White Plains cast ballots in the city election. 


 



The Mayor said a sensitive goodbye to Larry Delgado, crediting Mr. Delgado with being with him in the early years of his first eight years as mayor and supporting him in those early years and during the tough times in this campaign. Mr. Delgado, said he looked back with thanks for the time on the Council, and said “White Plains is in good hands with Mayor Delfino at the helm,” saying “the best is yet to be, and you haven’t seen anything yet.” Photo by WPCNR News



Unsuccessful Republican Council Candidates Applaud the Mayor. Left to right, John Carlson, Francesco Mastracchio and Larry Delgado. Photo by WPCNR News.


John Carlson in a statement said, ” The citizens of White Plains have spoken. I wish Mayor Delfino and the successful Common Council candidates Rita Malmud, Tom Roach and Glen Hockley  Godspeed.


White Plains is truly the “capital” of Westchester County — the residential, cultural, intellectual, governmental and business capital. But the problems still need to be solved so that our quality of life is preserved — the declining commercial assessments, the rise in violent crime, Moody’s Negative Outlook.


I thank those who supported me. Indeed, I am grateful for your support. Let’s now look ahead. There are some bumps in the road — the succesful candidates will need your prayers and support. Myself? I will reamin active as a citizen, working to make White Plains the best it can be.”


Franceso Mastraccio said he was “not a quitter,” and would be back to run again.


Bill Ryan and Andy Spano are back!


In the County Legislature race for White Plains-Scarsdale District 5, Chairman of the County Board of Legislators, Democrat  William Ryan defeated  Cass Cibelli 6,204 votes to 2,398, a 72% to 24% spread.


In the County Executive contest, Democrat Andy Spano won reelection, defeating Rob Astorino. Janet DiFiore was elected District Attorney, and Timothy Idoni was elected County Clerk.  For complete results on the County level, go to www.westchestergov.com.


 


 

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Delfino Drives Hard to the Finish. Power Lies Low.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2005. News Commentary By John F. Bailey. November 8, 2005, UPDATED 11 A.M. E.S.T. UPDATED 11:51 A.M. E.S.T.: It is Election Day and the campaign for Mayor and Council is over. White Plainsians are heading to the polls opening at 6 A.M., and have until 9 P.M. tonight to vote and decide whether the Delfino Administration is to be extended for another four years, or to vote in Dennis Power, former Councilman, who has campaigned hard the last two weeks.


The weekend was punctuated by telephone calling and two Mayoral events, and the mailing of two brochures by the Mayor in a one-two punch. In the “Splat” brochure, he accused Mr. Power of distorting the facts, flinging mud, and saying the city’s finances are in great shape and that his opponents have nothing to say. The “Splat” brochure is a tecnique used with effect in November of 2001 and I believe November of 1997.


The Mayor followed that up Saturday with the “Together Brochure,” claiming among other things, he was bringing a 4-Star Hotel and 5-Star restaurant, a rubber-wheel trolley system, and a makeover of the West Side in his Phase IV renovation plan (which WPCNR was told a few weeks ago, the city has “no plan for.”)


The Mayor announced and held a Get Out the Vote Rally on Sunday, an unprecedented event in this reporter’s experience. The Mayor took the opportunity to ask his supporters to call friends and urge them to vote. Whether this means the Republicans lack volunteers to get Delfinoistas out to the polls, if they think they need them, remains to be seen.


But the Mayor was everywhere the last week — at the Youth Bureau celebration, at the Westco Gala. He is the consummate American politician in every sense of the word.



The Mayor’s Get Out the Vote Rally Sunday in Delfino Park. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


Then the Mayor pulled out the stops at the Common Council Meeting Monday evening in a brilliant heartwarming Common Council meeting. He staged a Rosa Parks event, inviting members of the African-American community to speak and an acquaintance of Rosa Parks to speak. He recognized a popular young man from Archbishop Stepinac High School whom WPCNR knows from Little League, Patrick Massaroni as Youth of the Month. He recognized a black woman, Dionne Lewin, Section 8 Administrator working for the city who did much for Hurricane Katrina victims in Houston.  


He chose the occasion to celebrate the Finance Department getting an award for financial presentation yet again from the Government Financial Officer’s Association, cleverly orchestrated to indicate that the city’s financial reporting is beyond reproach. Most persons seeing this award do not realize the award is simply for looks, and presentation, not content comprehensiveness. If the budget were comprehensive we would have nothing to write about!


On the consent agenda, the Mayor  had Rita Malmud and Tom Roach and Larry Delgado speak on various matters, doing “Star Turns” on the touchy-feely issues of the city and schools joint facilities agreement, and Mr. Delgado talking about affordable housing and a grant of funds to rehabilitate housing in the city. All demonstrated on television for the voters their hearts were in the right place and were wonderful people.


The Mayor touched all the bases. Will he reach home plate? Was he piling up insurance runs, or pulling it out?


Dennis Power did not finish his punches.


Power meanwhile sent out a powerful letter from former Superintendent of Schools Saul Yanofsky, taking the Delfino Administration to task for ignoring the plight of the school district and failing to achieve the growth he claims has come about from the downtown development. A final press conference by Power last Thursday repeated his theme that the city finances were in poor shape, and that citizens needed to be involved in planning future growth and future development of the city, and that he would do that.


 Power sent out no other mailings to counter the Delfino drive to the finish. Power also made no appearances that we know of since last Thursday. Is he laying low because he has the lead, or is it considered that the election is lost? Or do they want him to lose. Come on, you got to finish! Be a boxer!


Wife’s Illness blunts Power’s Last Weekend.


WPCNR has learned that Mr. Power’s wife was taken ill over the weekend, forcing him not to campaign as vigorously as planned, according to a source with the campaign. However, this puts Mr. Powers’ Council running mates further to shame for “not taking up the slack” and carrying the good fight to the Mayor, perhaps even playing up the illness as a campaign issue for the sympathy factor. A slogan comes to mind: “Residents and Family Come First,” or perhaps: “White Plains: It’s All About Family.” But then I am a cynical person.


Power is to be commended for the media-grabbing Del Vecchio-Schulman endorsements and the Yanofsky  letter.


Andy Reaches Out and Touches You, but Does Not Plug Power


Meanwhile Andy Spano, County Executive Incumbent, continued to reach out and touch all voters, as did Hillary Clinton, and Bill Clinton, urging us to vote for Mr. Spano, pass a bond issue, and what have you.


What was really glaringly missing from Mr. Spano’s telephone messages, or any Democratic message was any support for Mr. Power and the other Democratic Candidates in White Plains.


It’s easy to do that. The County Executive just cuts different recordings to feed to different communities. Why didn’t he do that? It goes along with WPCNR’s theory that no Democratic incumbent really wants Mr. Power to win this thing because it would upset the preordained line of succession.


More to the point, don’t you think Adam Bradley could have cut a telephone message for Mr. Power? After all Mr. Bradley is the man pulling the strings on the City Democratic Committee (Tim James  and Liz Schollenberger,  worked with him in his former campaign in Bradley’s Naomi Matusow ouster in 2002). (Jonathan Appel and Arnold Bernstein were Bradley’s Campaign Managers) Don’t you think Mr. Bradley could have helped Mr. Power just a little? A wince? Didn’t Adam want him to win?


And how about, Bill Ryan or Hillary or Bill Clinton telephone messages? Why didn’t they do something for Dennis on the phone. At the very least Mr. Power could have been in some of Andy’s TV Spots…no harm.


And how about  Bill Clinton making an appearance with Mr. Power in White Plains. That would have gotten a few votes.


With Running Mates Like these, no one could win.


Why didn’t several of Mr. Power’s running mates and Democratic personalities campaign for him? Mr. Boykin, Ms. Malmud, Mr. Roach, Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Hockley never made any passionate speeches for Mr. Power. He was treated as if he was an invisible man by his running mates. The Democratic councilpersons were not good actors in this political drama. They went through the motions, very few motions, as a matter of fact.


Why did not those kind of credibility boosting appearances by the Clintons, and who knows who else, happen?


To be sure, Mr. Power is not the only candidate neglected by his running mates. John Carlson, the Republican Councilman was kept off the mike at the Mayor’s Get Out the Vote Rally Sunday, working the crowd. Admittedly, Carlson has been criticising the Mayor’s financial policies. Then today when Mayor Delfino’s telephone message went out to residents, he said to get out and vote for Larry Delgado and Franceso Marinaccio, but did not mention Mr. Carlson. What a gaffe!


U.S. Attorney’s Office, are you listening? Perhaps if Janet DiFiore wins D.A. she can institute an election fraud investigation, or maybe Tony Castro, should he win. Fraud, what fraud? The 2005 White Plains election reeks.


However, if Mr. Power wins today. This tears up the pea patch. Remember the Democrats were going to simply not run anyone against Mr. Delfino until Ron Jackson asked to run. Then BOOM! Dennis Power leaps to the barricades. Power did not campaign for three months, finally getting started in early September.


 But, he has not beat up the Mayor on three big time issues.


Crime — Power refused to light up the Mayor on the Galleria Murder. He refused to pound the Mayor on the changing nature of the downtown at night, particulary the increase in assaults — instead he attacked traffic which he blamed on development.


7 Coverups — Power attacked the Mayor on not responding to phone calls, but refused to ream the Mayor on the coverups:


1. The sewer coverup of 2001.


2. The Silver Lake sewage spill coverup of 2005.


3.  The witholding the Moody’s bond rating coverup of 2004,


4.  The failure of the Mayor to meet the Budget and Management Committee for nine months last year Cover Up  of 2004, when the city was facing tough financial decisions.


5. The coverup of financial figures on sales tax progress in 2005.


6.  The coverup of the Performing Arts Center Fix in 2003. 


7.  The last coverup: the 2003 $27,245,000 Municipal Bond floated for LC White Plains by the County IDA which was never publicized. Coverups always play well.


Performing Arts Center Fiasco — How much is this theatre operation making anyway? Why is it nobody buys tickets and the tickets have to be given away or sold at half-price? How much is the city spending on it? Man, this is ripe for cherrypicking. Adam Bradley could have sliced and diced the Mayor on this issue alone.


 At this point you wonder what might have been had Mr. Power ran harder to win, and not tried so hard to be a nice guy.


Of course if Mr. Power wins, then it was a brilliant, lowkey, strategic campaign, taking the high road all the way against an entrenched incumbent with a quartermillion to spend, and he ran it without, as I have pointed out, any help from the Spano war chest, not much any way. Bad job by the Democrats all the way around.


In politics you have to be able to do anything to win. It is like football. You have to out-tough the other team. Delfino knows how to do that.


 

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Memorial United presents “A Single Woman” This Weekend.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. November 8, 2005: The Memorial United Methodist Church, 250 Bryant Avenue will present A Single Woman, presented by the Nevada Shakespeare Company. the story of Jeannette Rankin, a lifelong pacifist, who was the first woman elected to Congress, even before women had the right to vote!  Rankin was a groundbreaking pacifist from Montana who opposed the U.S. entrance into both World Wars.   The will be present Sunday, November 13 at 6 PM, and Monday, November 14, at 7:30 P.M. Admission is $10 per person. For more, call 949-2146, or go to info@memorialmethodist.org.

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5-Star Restaurant Will Top 221 Main Street Tower. Will Join 4-Star Hotel: Berg.

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. November 7, 2005: Bruce Berg Senior Vice President of Cappelli Enterprises today confirmed to WPCNR News that the Louis Cappelli 221 Main Street Hotel & Condominium project under construction on Main Street will be incorporating “a 5-Star Restaurant” on the 40th Floor of the first tower of the project. Berg told WPCNR that his organization is negotiating now with several possible operators of the planned establishment. Berg said it would have wrap-around views of Westchester County.



Louis Cappelli Demonstrating Last Seen Design for 40 Story Main Street Hotel Condo Main Street side tower. Arnold Berstein foreground, and Jim Benerofe background look on. Bar Building is at left. Grace Church is at lower right March 23, 2005.  According to Bruce Berg, Mr. Cappelli has decided to add a rooftop restaurant at the top of the tower. A new design will be showcased to the Common Council within the next four weeks. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.



Ambitious Copy Spills the Beans on Rooftop Restaurant. The Campaign Brochure revealing the 5-Star Restaurant Deal that Mr. Berg confirmed to WPCNR. Photo by WPCNR News.


Mr. Berg said the plans have not been submitted to the Common Council as yet, but have been in development for weeks, since the Common Council had made it known (Councilmen Benjamin Boykin, particularly, and Robert Greer), they hoped a rooftop showcase dining establishment could be incorporated into the project.


Berg told WPCNR that the hotel being considered is definitely a 4-Star hotel, and he expected to name it within 4 weeks.


The news of the hotel came to WPCNR’s attention via a last minute Mayor Joseph Delfino campaign brochure, announcing a 4-star hotel and rooftop restaurant. A call to the Mayor’s office for details has been placed.


As originally approved, the 221 Main Hotel-Condoplex did not include a rooftop restaurant.

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Mayor Calls for Supporters to Call Friends to the Polls Tuesday

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2005. By John F. Bailey. November 6, 2005: Mayor Joseph Delfino held a “Get Out the Vote Rally” Sunday in Delfino Park, attended by some 300 persons who enjoyed free food and refreshments, including hot White Plains Fire Department chili. In his remarks, Mayor Delfino called upon his supporters to call their friends and turn out the votes for him  on Election Day to allow him “to finish the job” he has done in White Plains the last eight years.



Mayor Delfino with Councilman Larry Delgado, addressing supporters Sunday. Photo by WPCNR News.


The Mayor criticised the Power Campaign for getting personal, saying he was particularly hurt by their mocking criticism of the Mayor’s practice of attending funerals. The Mayor, said he attends funerals because of the 1,700 persons who attended his brother Carl’s funeral in 1975, saying that had personally moved moved. Mayor Delfino drew on his immigrant roots, saying he was sorry his father had not lived to see not one, but two sons elected Mayor. On specifics, he said the city was in “great financial shape,” and that the city’s auditors said every city in the state should be as in good financial shape as White Plains.  The Mayor said he made campaign appearances at Stop N Shop, What a Bagel, and Roosters this morning prior to the rally.


Rob Astorino, Republican Candidate for County Executive spoke saying all Westchester was suffering from high taxes and said the Mayor needed a partner as County Executive, and he looked forward to working with the Mayor.
 

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Adam Bradley on Veterans Day Patriot Plan & Veterans Benefits

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. November 5, 2005:  On this Nov. 11 we mark the day 87 years ago that ended WWI and has now become the hallowed commemoration of sacrifice known as Veterans’ Day. Alongside local parades celebrating our fighting men and women, we will also remember those who, sadly, have fallen for freedom. The brave soldiers who selflessly risk their lives deserve all the help we can provide.  I am committed to rewarding the sacrifices veterans have made for our country and I am also very proud to serve on the Assembly’s Committee on Veterans Affairs. 


 


   





The sacrifices of over 20,000 New Yorkers serving in active duty are shared more than ever with their families, who deserve all the help they can to cope with this disruption in their lives. To this end, the Assembly passed the Patriot Plan (Ch. 106 of 2003) which has been helping military personnel for three years.  The plan helps military members by:


 


·        Imposing a cap on installment loan interest


·        Extending eviction protections


·        Allowing for the termination of car leases without penalty


·        Extending mortgage foreclosure protections


·        Extending the deadline to pay property taxes, contingent upon locality


·        Protecting against lapse in life insurance for non-payment of premiums


 


To help our military personnel find meaningful work upon their return, the Patriot


      Plan also helps our troops by:


 


·        Extending the certification period for emergency technicians on active duty


·        Waiving continuing professional education requirements and automatically extending professional licenses


·        Protecting soldiers who have to suspend their education, allowing them to retain credits, standings or scholarships, providing them the option of requesting a refund or credit of tuition and fees


·        Allowing special military make-up exams for military members who, due to military service, missed the application deadline for a scheduled competitive exam


 


We will also provide for the spouse and their children, by extending them the death benefits which all of New York’s public servants receive. And when those same kids graduate high school, the Patriot Plan will provide scholarship money for them and their parents. They can also be assured life insurance premiums will be reimbursed for policies up to $400,000 should the worst occur.


 


 


Today’s soldier is very different from the ones of the last century. Alongside 18-year-old high school graduates there are ever increasing numbers of married men and women with children and houses and mortgages. As military recruitment efforts struggle, more reservists are asked to leave behind their jobs and communities to defend democracy afar or help Americans coping with natural disasters at home. This plan helps to assist veterans and their families and provides a smooth peacetime transition for New York’s service members.   


 


For more information about these and other benefits, visit the DMNA Web site, www.dmna.state.ny.us/members/patriot.html or call the Legal Affairs Office at (518) 786-4541, or 1-888-VETSNYS.


 


Veterans of the Persian Gulf or Afghanistan conflicts can now receive, upon request, a new “War on Terror” license plate.  For more information, go to, www.nydmv.state.ny.us/armedforces.htm.


 


There is no greater sacrifice for any greater cause than that given by the American soldier. Though we take this day to honor their memory and their continued struggle, our soldiers continue to fight, when called upon, as they always do. It is our obligation to live up to the freedoms they guard with their lives, and to remain thankful, not just this Veterans’ Day, but every day.

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MUMC Presents

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Memorial United Methodist Church. November 1, 2005: “A Single Woman,” a Play About the First Woman in the US Congress, Comes to Memorial UMC Nov. 13


A Single Woman, the story of Jeanette Rankin, who was the first woman elected to Congress – even before women had the vote – will be presented at Memorial UMC by the Nevada Shakespeare Company on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. Rankin was a groundbreaking pacifist from Montana who opposed the U.S. entrance into both World Wars I and II and proposed the legislation that resulted in assistance to veterans following the Second World War. The characters in this two-person play are Jeanette Rankin and Everyman, who presents cameos by FDR, JFK, Harry Truman, Fiorello LaGuardia, Carrie Chapman Catt, Alice Paul, Coretta Scott King, children, sharecroppers and
journalists.

Writer, producer, and actress Jeanmarie Simpson plays Jeannette Rankin, and her husband Cameron co-stars in the versatile role of Everyman. More info about the show can be found at http://www.nevada-shakespeare.org/asinglewoman.html.

DATE:        Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005 TIME:        6 p.m. COST:        $10

LOCATION:    Memorial United Methodist Church, 250 Bryant Avenue, White Plains,
Asbury Hall, downstairs

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Ryan to Hire Investigative Firm to Scrutinize Amodio’s for Suspected Solid Waste

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From County Board of Legislators Press Offic. November 4, 2005 (EDITED): Bill Ryan, Chair of the County Board of Legislators, has retained an investigative firm to help determine “just what’s really going on,” at Amodio’s Garden Center on Mamaroneck Avenue, long the target of complaints by the Saxon Woods Neighborhood Association for commercial activities. The Association has never, however, issued a formal complaint about activities at the Center.

 


Ryan’s action, to hire Hawthorne Investigations, was done in consultation with Tom Abinanti, Chair of the Board’s Solid Waste Committee, conducting hearings on the issue. 


 


 


“My constituents have told me that Amodio’s business has evolved, over the years, from a small neighborhood nursery to a low-level use/ industrial type operation in the midst of a residential neighborhood,” Ryan said. “That’s of serious concern to them and to me. Are they conducting an activity that should be licensed and regulated by the county? To answer that question, the county needs a technical assessment of their operations. The county needs to determine if Amodio’s is operating as a nursery or as a nursery with a solid waste transfer operation. If it’s the latter, then the county’s Solid Waste Commission has jurisdiction to regulate the business.”


 


The county regulates and licenses solid waste businesses operating in Westchester. The local municipality determines where a solid waste business in its community can operate.


 


Distressed over the seeming inability of the City of White Plains to resolve a longstanding problem involving Amodio’s Garden Center, Bill Ryan  (D-WF, White Plains), Chair of the County Board of Legislators, has retained an investigative firm to help determine “just what’s really going on.”


 


Ryan’s action, to hire Hawthorne Investigations, was done in consultation with Tom Abinanti, Chair of the Board’s Solid Waste Committee, which has been conducting hearings on the issue. 


 


 



“Residents testified before the Committee and presented compelling evidence,” Abinanti said. “The consultant we have hired, who has significant expertise in the field, will help us to determine whether Amodio’s is running an operation that under law needs to be licensed by the county.”


 


Abinanti said that the consultant’s report will assist the Committee in determining whether the matter should be referred to the county’s Solid Waste Commission for further action.


 


“If Amodio’s is running a solid waste transfer station, as residents allege, the county’s Solid Waste Commission can then exercise its regulating authority,” Abinanti said. “The county can demand that Amodio’s secure the appropriate licenses to operate. If it secures the appropriate licenses, that’s as far as the county’s authority goes. It then becomes a local zoning matter that the City of White Plains must resolve.”


 



 

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15-Story, 200- Unit Senior Housing Proposed for Post Office Parking Lot on Court

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. November 4, 2005 (EDITED): Westchester County Executive Andy Spano and Chairman of the Board of Legislators Bill Ryan announced selection of the developer for a 15-story senior housing project of 200 one- and two-bedroom apartment units to occupy the old White Plains Post Office parking lot, behind the present Board of Elections office. The project has not been approved by the City of White Plains and will be presented to the city for its approval.


 



Backdoor of the Board of Elections: New Senior Housing would be built in the parking lot to the left. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.


The development will be maintained at affordable rent levels for at least 40 years.  Approximately 60 percent of the units will be affordable to households earning no more than 50 and 60 percent of county’s median income. Approximately 40 percent of the units will be for households earning up to 80 percent of the median income. According to current income limits by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a single person could earn up to $32,700 at 50 percent of median, $39,250 at 60 percent of median, and $52,300 at 80 percent of median. The development, for which a price was announced in the official news release, the county promises will be maintained at “affordable” rent levels for 40 years. No financial details on construction costs or how the project was to be funded were presented in the release.


 


 


 At a news conference today, County Executive Andy Spano and Board of Legislators Chairman Bill Ryan announced that HANAC/Bluestone/Enterprise, an experienced housing development team, has been selected to design and build the project in downtown White Plains. The team was selected after a recent “request for proposals” (RFP) process by the county.


The site of the project, at the southwesterly corner of Court and Quarropas streets, adjacent to 143 Grand Street, (Site of the Board of Elections, the former White Plains Post Office)  is currently an outdoor county parking lot.


“After a very competitive and careful review, we’ve selected a well respected and very experienced development team,” Spano said. “They will take our vision of what affordable housing can be and make it a reality. It will help satisfy the tremendous need for affordable housing for our seniors and at the same time showcase the latest in ‘green and smart technology.’” 


Ryan noted that there are seven existing senior housing facilities in White Plains and they all have waiting lists. “Seniors make up 15 percent of White Plains’ residential population and that is expected to increase by 40 percent over the next 25 years,” Ryan said. “It is critical that we act now to not only handle current pent-up demand for affordable senior housing but to avert an even greater senior housing crisis in the future.”


Key features will include:


·        Intergenerational Center, consisting of adult and child day care services where social interaction between young and old will enhance the quality of life for all residents;


·         Smart Technology” to provide seniors with a high level of security and modern communications systems including computer access so residents may stay in touch with family and friends;


·        Green Technology” to ensure the greatest level of environmental sensitivity and energy efficiency, and provide an example for developers of other residential and non-residential facilities to follow;


·        Architectural design that provides the highest level of interior amenities and shared spaces with exterior features that enhance the fabric of the neighborhood and surrounding streetscape and skyline.


·        Provisions for the handicapped that incorporate the latest in design features for all residents with units  set-aside specifically for those with acute physical disabilities;


The development team includes HANAC, a non-profit agency based in New York City with experience in the ownership and operation of senior affordable housing; the Bluestone Organization, a New York City-based developer of affordable and market rate housing; and the Enterprise Social Investment Corp., one of the nation’s leading providers of community development capital, tax credit investments and development services for affordable housing, mixed-use and commercial development.  Rounding out the high caliber of the team is the firm of SLCE Architects, a New York City-based group with an impressive portfolio of affordable and market rate housing and experience with innovative “green buildings.”


The next step in the project is for the county to enter into an agreement with the development team. Approvals must also be obtained from the City of White Plains. Barring any delays in the local approval process, it is anticipated that the housing will be completed in about two years, with occupancy of the apartments slated for sometime in 2008.

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